224: Gamification Makes Sales Role Play Fun

<p>An ideal work week for salespeople would start everyday with sales role play with colleagues.  When we do serious exercise we warm up to get into prime condition for becoming better at our activities.  It is the same with sales, we need to warm up before we interact with clients.  We need to get our communication vehicle into top well maintained condition.  By practicising what we will be saying to the client we will be so much better when we come face to face or face to screen with the client.  Yet, how many people do this every day?  How about a couple of times a week?  How about never? </p> <p> </p> <p>Sadly the “never” answer would be the overwhelming majority.  Clients don’t need any preparatory work to say, “your price is too high”.  Buyers are all given this facility at birth, so they are always ready to go.  Salespeople on the other hand, have to work hard at setting up the context for the client, so that the “your price is too high” missile is never launched.  Given this reality why aren’t profession salespeople working hard to perfect their skills before they are interacting with buyers?</p> <p> </p> <p>Too busy would be the typical excuse.  Really?  What about between 8.00am and say 8.30am in the mornings?  Probably everyone has this slot open to them.  No one to lead the session is another cop out.  What leadership does it take to buddy up and go through different aspects of the sale’s call?  None.  Every sales team could self regulate and practice with each other.  All that is needed is to tell your partner what they were doing well in their role play and then tell them how they could make it even better. </p> <p> </p> <p>We can also make sales role plays fun.  We can set up some variables for variety.  We can allocate different personality styles to be played out as the buyer.  The Driver – time is money types, “tell me what you want and then buzz off buddy, I’m busy”.  The Amiable – “let’s have a cup of tea together and get to know each other better”.  The Analytical, “can I get the data to thre